Failing academies to face same interventions as council-run schools

An amendment, announced by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, to the Education and Adoption Bill will require all failing or coasting schools, including academies and free schools, to prove they can improve or face the possibility of being taken over by a high-performing academy sponsor.

Previously the bill – which enables schools judged "inadequate" by Ofsted to face "instant intervention" – had only applied to council-run schools.

Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association for Teachers and Lecturers, said the government “seems to be finally waking up to the fact that some academies underperform”.

She added: “Belatedly the government has recognised the nonsense of having a two-tier performance system which treats schools linked to their local authority more harshly than academies.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) also welcomed the move.

Roy Perry, chairman of the LGA's children and young people board, said: “Councils have long argued that any academy deemed to be coasting or failing its pupils should be held to account with swift intervention. Underperformance should not be acceptable in any type of school and it is extremely worrying that over the last three years Ofsted recently found that only 37 per cent of secondary schools have actually improved their Ofsted rating after converting.

“Over 80 per cent of council maintained schools are currently rated as 'good' or 'outstanding' by Ofsted, while three times as many councils perform above the national average in terms of progress made by pupils, compared with the largest academy chains. Councils should be regarded as education improvement partners and be allowed to intervene early and use their solid experience, integrity and desire to help improve the system.”

The U-turn has also been welcomed by academy sponsors.

Sir Michael Wilkins, chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, said: “As an academy sponsor it is of course right that I should be held to the same standards as maintained schools.”

Nick Capstick, chief executive of the White Horse Federation, which runs 14 schools in the South West of England, added the change “will level the accountability playing field for all”.

Last month, Ofsted revealed that 17,000 more children are at inadequate academies and free schools than at council-run schools handed the same grade.

Morgan said: “It is only right that the small number of academies that are struggling to stretch their pupils are held to account to ensure all pupils fulfil their potential.

“We are committed to ensuring educational excellence everywhere and challenging all schools to raise their standards is a key part of this.”

Prime Minister David Cameron added that the move is part of the government’s commitment “to make local authorities running schools a thing of the past”.

This was also confirmed in Chancellor George Osborne’s Spending Review, which cut £600m from the education services grant that is used by councils for school improvement services.

An announcement on whether councils will be stripped of their duty to ensure local schools improve is expected in 2016.